With just over a month to go before the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) (www.AHIF.com) opens its doors on 25th June, the government of Namibia has confirmed that the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba will headline the agenda.  AHIF, which is known as the most influential annual gathering of hospitality industry investors, business leaders, government officials, bankers, and expert advisors on the African continent, typically welcomes delegates from over 50 countries for three days of high-level networking, formal business meetings and discussion of all the latest trends and developments.

Hot topics on this year’s agenda include Active Development Financial Institutions, Artificial Intelligence, Authentic Leisure, Aviation Connectivity, Conservation, Demographics, Female Power, Government Initiatives to Support Hospitality, Hotel Development, Hotelification of the Workspace, International and Lifestyle Brands, Investing in Namibia, the New Global Geopolitical Order and its Impact on Hospitality, New Ventures, Optimal Capital Structure, People, Resorts, Sustainability and more.

Prominent speakers include Namibia’s Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Hon. Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta and several top executives who, between them, have the power to transform a destination by funding projects, create thousands of employment opportunities and boost international tourism, which is a major source of export revenue for many African countries. They include Artur Gerber, Managing Director, TUI Blue, Olivier Granet, Managing Partner&CEO, Kasada Capital Management, Fahad Kazim, CEO, Millennium Hotels&Resorts&Lakhraim Group, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa&Southwest Asia, IHG Hotels&Resorts, Paul Stevens, Chief Operating Officer ME&Africa, Accor and many more of a similar calibre.

Nangula Uaandja, Chairperson and CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, said: “The government has implemented the International Tourism Revival Initiative, with key objectives including creating new tourism routes and expanding tourism product offerings, including the establishment of the Namibia Convention Bureau aimed at branding and promoting Namibia as a MICE destination. This has opened up unique investment opportunities that further enhance the attractiveness of Namibia as an investment destination. We are looking forward to showcasing some of these opportunities which hold immense economic potential at AHIF 2024. Our team at NIPDB is always ready to help investors to have a seamless entry and ensure a soft landing in Namibia.”

Matthew Weihs, Founder of the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), added: “Namibia’s confirmation that its President will headline the AHIF agenda leaves me feeling optimistic about the country’s commitment to its tourism and hospitality sector. His presence not only signals that Namibia values the international hospitality investment community, but it also reinforces everything we have heard from our hosts about wanting to create a thriving visitor economy.”

AHIF takes place at the Mövenpick Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia, 25 – 27 June 2024.

Other prominent speakers include:

Michael Aldridge, Founder&CEO, KOFISI
JS Anand, Founder&CEO, Leva Hotels
Ewan Cameron, Director, Africa, Westmont Hospitality
Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Corp Global&CG Hospitality Holdings
Karim Cheltout, Regional Vice President, Lodging Development Africa&All-Inclusive EMEA, Marriott
David Damiba, Managing Partner&Co-Chief Executive Officer, Kasada Capital Management
Mark Dunford, Chief Executive Officer, Knight Frank
Erwan Garnier, Senior Director Development, Radisson Hotel Group
Naiara López Giner, Associate Manager – Tourism Advisory Lead, Hospitality&Tourism, Colliers
Wayne Godwin, Co-Chief Executive Officer, JLL Africa, Head, JLL’s Hotels&Hospitality Group, Africa
Bani Haddad, Founder&Managing Director, Aleph Hospitality
Lullu Krugel, Partner, Strategy and Chief Economist, PwC South Africa&PwC Africa ESG Platform Lead
Markus Lehnert, SVP International Hotel Development, Marriott International
Khalili Manji, Partner, CHIC
Laurinda Marsh, KAM Global Projects – Africa, hansgrohe
Haddis Tilahun, Founder&Chairman, United Africa Group
Wytze van den Berg, Vice President International Operations EMEA/ Vice President EMEA WorldHotels, BWH Hotels
David Vely, VP Regional Development (Middle East&Africa), Club Med
Jameel Verjee, Founder&CEO, CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)
Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF).

Further Information:
For further information and high-resolution images, please contact: David Tarsh at +44 (0) 7770 816 070 or email: David@Tarsh.com.

About the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF):
AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by The Bench (www.TheBench.com), which has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Bench’s mission is to enable prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide.

www.TheBench.com.

Sponsors of AHIF are Host Sponsor: Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB); Host Partner: Kasada Capital Management; Platinum Sponsors: ClubMed, Radisson Hotel Group; Gold Sponsors: Accor, Aleph Hospitality, BWH Hotels, CHIC, CityBlue, Colliers, FNB Bank, hansgrohe, IHG Hotels and Resorts, JLL, Knight Frank, Kofisit, LEVA, Marriott International. Millennium Hotels and Resorts, O&L Leisure Hotels and Lodges, RMB Bank, TUI Hotels&Resorts; Silver Sponsors: Gondwana Collection, HVS, STR, TIME Hotels and TV5Monde; Confectionary Cafe Sponsor: Profica; Golf Sponsor: CBRE: Bar Sponsor: Zia Travel Atelier; Clinic Sponsor: Wisefields Law; Networking Sponsors: Multichoice Namibia&Talinda; Official Carriers: Discover, FlyNamibia, South African Airways. 

President H.E. Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with the President of the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Wavel Ramkalawan, in Antigua and Barbuda today.

Both Presidents highlighted the challenges their countries faced as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), how SIDS can work together to overcome them and in that regard, the importance of the 4th International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4).

During the conversation, the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including collaboration in youth issues, people-to-people exchanges, the security of the Indian Ocean Region, and national efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, sea level rise, and coral reef restoration. Furthermore, the President of the Seychelles assured that the Seychelles would support the Maldives in all areas. Both leaders further highlighted the common positions on many thematic areas and agreed to enhance cooperation.

Concluding the meeting, both leaders expressed hope for strengthened bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two island nations.

President Dr Muizzu is in Antigua and Barbuda to attend the fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4).

SIDS4 is scheduled to take place in Antigua and Barbuda from May 27 to 30 under the theme, “Charting the Course Towards Resilient Prosperity.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Maldives: The President’s Office.

On behalf of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea before the United Nations in New York, the Counsellor Chargé d’Affaires, Juan Mbomio Ndong Mangue, approached the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to express his sorrow in the book of condolences, following the death of the late President of Iran, H. E. Ebrahim Raisi and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

“The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea before the United Nations in New York stands by the friendly and sister Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iran at this difficult moment, following the sad and heartbreaking loss of President H. E Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian”.

Following the death of H. E. Ebrahim Raisi and Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran before the United Nations sent a note verbale informing all diplomatic representations before the UN in New York of the availability of a book of condolences in memory of their former President and Foreign Minister.

To comply with this diplomatic practice, in a gesture of sympathy and an expression of solidarity, on 24 May 2024, in the name and on behalf of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea before the United Nations in New York, a delegation from our country, led by Juan Mbomio Ndong Mangue, approached the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to express its deepest condolences on such an irreparable loss.

The two leaders lost their lives after the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

Hosein Awad, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, who has traveled to Tehran as the special representative of the President of this country to pay respects to the position and stature of the martyred Iranian President and Foreign Minister, met and held talks with Ali Bagheri, Iran’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, expressed deep condolences and solidarity of the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, the government, and the people of Sudan with the Supreme Leader, government, and people of Iran on the occasion of the martyrdom of President Raisi and Amirabdollahian.

He emphasized: “The government and people of Sudan have long-standing friendly and brotherly relations with the government and Muslim people of Iran, and in these difficult times, we consider ourselves sharing your grief and believe that Iran will successfully overcome this sensitive and difficult phase.”

He emphasized the serious determination of Sudanese officials to pursue previous agreements to resume and develop relations in various dimensions.

Bagheri, for his part, thanked the officials and people of Sudan for their kind and comforting messages and expressions of sympathy.

Bagheri pointed to the special role of martyr Ayatollah Raisi and martyr Amirabdollahian in developing relations with neighbors and Islamic countries and emphasized the continuation of this approach.

The Iranian Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs also expressed regret over the current situation in Sudan and the difficult conditions of its people, stressing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for Sudan’s territorial integrity and the return of stability and security to this country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Islamic Republic of Iran.